The Bishop of Newcastle has welcomed a new government scheme for kinship carers in the North East.
Relatives such as grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles who step in to provide care for children are known as kinship carers. They are to be paid in seven local areas of England, under a new pilot initiative.
Newcastle has been selected as one of the seven Kinship Zones included in the £126 million pilot scheme alongside Bexley, Bolton, North East Lincolnshire, Medway, Thurrock and Wiltshire. Approximately 5000 children will benefit from the pilot with each local authority able to tailor funding and support packages to meet local needs within each zone.
The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, who is a Lord Spiritual, is delighted, having been an active voice in the House of Lords regarding kinship care.
She said: “I welcome the news that Newcastle will be one of the seven new Kinship Zones providing much needed and focused support for those providing care in a kinship context.”
The pilot will run for up to three and a half years from April 2026 with funding confirmed for the first two years.
Situations where people become kinship carers often arise suddenly or due to traumatic circumstances where children might otherwise end up in the care system.
The aim of the pilot is to determine whether providing financial support for kinship carers will help keep children within loving family homes, ultimately keeping them out of the overburdened care system, reducing costs and improving long-term outcomes for children and their families. Outcomes from the pilot will inform future plans for expansion.
According to 2021 Census data, the North East has the highest proportion of households with kinship care arrangements. Taking on this caring responsibility can take both a financial and emotional toll on families but unlike foster carers, kinship carers do not currently receive consistent financial support.
In recent years, campaigners, including Bishop Helen-Ann, have been calling for better recognition, financial support and employment rights for those caring for children within their extended family or friendship network.
Bishop Helen-Ann questioned whether the current care system was up to standard during the ‘Children in Care’ debate in April 2024. While grateful for ministerial engagement on the topic, she urged the government to consider a long-term, sustainable solution.
Speaking at the time, Bishop Helen-Ann said: “Twelve percent of kinship carers are concerned they cannot continue caring for their children in the next year if their circumstances do not improve – with most citing financial pressures as the reason.”
In May 2025, Bishop Helen-Ann spoke on proposed amendments to the Employment Rights Bill during the Committee Stage in the House of Lords where she supported the introduction of statutory paid leave for kinship carers.